John > Recent Status Updates

My habit of not looking into books before reading them and not "reading the back cover" may be biting me hard. I always thought The Andromeda Strain to be science fiction set in the future with spaceships and planets.

That may still turn out to be true . . . but probably won't.

Michael Crichton was a giant at 6'9" tall!

Rest in Peace Maggie Smith,
28 Dec 1934 - 27 Sep 2024 (aged 89)

The beginning flowed like a normal story, but at some point I started going over entire scenes twice or even three times, even taking the risk of googling people or items.

It isn't just me. There are a bunch of posts online basically asking, "Is this poorly written or am I dumb?"

I feel better after seeing this is a common problem. I will adjust, expect this to be more challenging, and soldier on.

Bink found some magical wood. The griffin Crombie's power pointed the group to glowing fungus as the nearest food. p.156

CONNECTIONS II

"I saw him dancing there
By the record machine
I knew he must have
Been about 17..."
-Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

*Another* gender-swapped cover;

now follow this ride:
Beau -> Bella -> Kristen Stewart -> Joan Jett in film, The Runaways(2010)

CONNECTIONS

Imagine Edythe:
"Well he was just 17 / You know what I mean..."

So sang Tiffany in March 1988 which is 6 mos after Beau Swan, age 17, was born;

A gender-swapped version of the 1965 Beatles' smash hit.

Jessica made me aware of another event looming on the horizon--she called the first Tuesday of March to ask my permission to invite Mike to the girls' choice spring dance in two weeks.
- Twilight, p 48

In real life, the first Tuesday of March is only 3 days away!!!

This quote is not from "Life and Death" (the actual book that I am reading) because this scene, more heavily rewritten than most, doesn't specify March.

Already I am fully won over by this wonderful book. George R.R. Martin is a treasure. We benefit from him generously sharing his gift with us.

This book should be considered a required mate to the World of Ice and Fire. That gives a shorter, digestible overview to events and people we did not know; this gives more detail which is welcome to a reader after being exposed to these same histories.

I actually began this book several months ago. That copy, however, was the library's and now I have a massive fine. My drive dissipated when I got the book home and realized that the film release was delayed. There was no rush.

*sigh*

Starting again (not in time to see the movie) . . .

This is hard going, but I'm still trying. In the meantime, I am starting a different book.

page 128

p. 59 of 320 (18%)

LUKE: --Fie! With all this howling nonsense and
With all thy blasting ‘tis a miracle
That all within the station have not heard
Of our arrival.

Han: --Surely, let them come!
A fight would I prefer to sneaking yon
And hither.